On Friday, the 15 of October,听Food Studies Masters students journeyed into Rieti, about two hours north of Rome, to visit听, where Miguel and Alessandra have created a haven of community-based regenerative agriculture practices to promote sustainability and encourage a return to traditional, social farming values. Pulling on their creative arts background, the two saw an opportunity to reimagine production methods for communal benefit when they inherited this plot of family-owned land. The deeply human nature of their work would be impossible to recreate via industrial processes or mechanization.听
The focus of their production lies in wheat. They spoke eagerly about the Rieti variety, which is native to the region. Miguel detailed with enthusiasm the history of its development, use, and nutritional benefits. Illustrative of their agricultural philosophy, they depend upon听鈥攅ffectively alternating cows and chickens on different sectors of the land鈥攁s an organic fertilizing method to utilize the natural benefits of grazing and manure. Beyond livestock, the couple grows legumes for intercropping to facilitate wheat growth, given the nitrogen benefits that they release into the soil.听
Sustainable energy sources form a cornerstone of their farming techniques, as the听azienda听relies heavily on solar panels, a home bio-gas system, and thermal compost to heat their water. Most recently, they have even introduced thermal toilets.
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